Double Major (Ire)
Christophe Ferland trainee Double Major (Daiwa Major), who was on the upside of a narrow verdict in last month's G2 Prix Kergorlay, made a successful pitstop and defended his title in Thursday's G3 Prix Gladiateur, remaining on course in his quest to claim an unprecedented third G1 Prix Royal-Oak at Saint-Cloud next month. His victory provided owner-breeders Alain and Gerard Wertheimer and rider Maxime Guyon with a clean sweep of ParisLongchamp's three Group races. "This horse is really at his very best during the second part of the season and...
Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Tuesday's Observations features siblings to Group 1 winners and offspring of Group 1 winning mares. 14.30 Deauville, Mdn, €30,000, unraced 2yo, c/g, 9 1/2f (AWT) Alain and Gerard Wertheimer's KINDLEO (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is a Christophe Ferland-trained full-brother to last term's G1 Prix de la Foret heroine Kelina (Ire)....
Relishing the heavy ground at Saint-Cloud on Sunday, the Wertheimers' Double Major (Ire) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}--Dancequest {Ire}, by Dansili {GB}) successfully defended his crown in the feature G1 Prix Royal-Oak. Tracking the leader Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) from the break, the 13-2 shot was committed by Maxime Guyon with 300 metres remaining and stayed on strongly to deny the 23-10 favourite Sevenna's Knight (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) by 1 1/4 lengths, with Trueshan a head away in third. "I am very proud of him," trainer Christophe Ferland said. "Last year, we...
France looks to have a new staying star after the hybrid Melbourne Cup contender Sevenna's Knight (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) confirmed the form of the G3 Prix de Barbeville in Sunday's G2 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier at ParisLongchamp. Bought by OTI Management prior to his breakthrough black-type win in Deauville's Listed Michel Houyvet in August, the Ammerland-bred colt had been kept back from big competition by Andre Fabre until his 4-year-old bow when sixth in Meydan's G2 Dubai Gold Cup. Showing the benefit of that patient approach when domineering Shembala (Ire) (Cracksman...
There was a chance beforehand that the Wertheimers' 3-year-old Double Major (Ire) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}--Dancequest {Ire}, by Dansili {GB}) had an edge over his elders in Sunday's G1 Prix Royal-Oak at ParisLongchamp, but few would have imagined how great his advantage was as he outclassed them with a vintage display. Always happy at the head of affairs under Maxime Guyon, the Christophe Ferland-trained homebred started to draw clear from the top of the straight and despite wandering around in the clear was so far in front inside the last 100...
With Europe's leading stayers either having taken part in Champions Day or roughed off for the season, Sunday's G1 Prix Royal-Oak at ParisLongchamp has a wide-open feel with only the Wertheimers' Double Major (Ire) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) holding any kind of mystique. Successful in the track's G2 Prix Chaudenay on Arc weekend, the Christophe Ferland-trained 3-year-old has considerable upside taking on established marathon specialists in a race that has seen his age group prevail in five of the last eight renewals and three of the last four. With the likes...
Christophe Ferland's stable had not been firing on all cylinders during the summer months, but gave notice of a return to form with Shalromy's Listed Prix Matchem victory at Saint-Cloud on Friday, and the trainer's upturn in fortunes continued after Double Major (Ire) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}--Dancequest {Ire}, by Dansili {GB}) annexed Saturday's G2 Qatar Prix Chaudenay at ParisLongchamp. Alain and Gerard Wertheimer's homebred 3-year-old went untested as a juvenile and had run second in all three prior black-type starts, including a second to the reopposing Gallerist (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}) in...